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635:, Gaithersburg had struggled to find space within the city limits that the county could lease for use as a location where the day laborers could wait for employers. The owners of virtually all of the more than 30 sites considered by the city government had refused to grant a lease for this purpose, and in the one case where the property owner was willing to consider the use, the county's efforts to lease the property fell through after the property owner backed out. The debate became caught up in a larger national debate about the role of
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the first
African-American ever to serve on the council. To this day, only one other African-American has been elected to county government office at large. He was re-elected to the seat three more times, and served three one-year terms as council president. During his time on the council, he chaired the council's transportation and environment committee and played a role in passage of a county living wage law and a public
514:, the first intercollegiate fraternity established for African-Americans. In 1968, Leggett served as a captain in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, first in combat with a Military Advisory Unit attached to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and then as a public affairs officer with the 7th Support Battalion/199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Service. In 1974, he received
596:. Leggett and Silverman engaged in a long series of debates beginning almost a year before the election. But despite being outspent by Silverman by more than five to one, Leggett won the Democratic nomination for executive by 61.3 percent to 35.5 percent in the primary election on September 12, 2006. He then faced Republican nominee Chuck Floyd and independent anti-tax advocate
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555:. In 1992, a former county council aide of Leggett's accused him of sexual harassment in a widely publicized case, but the accusation was dismissed by a jury. In 2002, Leggett declined to run for re-election to the county council. He was widely viewed as a potential running mate for Democratic nominee
550:
Leggett's first participation in county government was as an appointed member of the
Montgomery County Human Relations Committee, on which he served from 1979 to 1986. He was later named Chair of the committee. In 1986, he was elected as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council, becoming
648:
Leggett was unopposed in the 2010 Democratic Party primary for County
Executive. In the general election, he was opposed by Republican Party candidate Douglas Rosenfeld. In the November balloting, Leggett won reelection with 66 percent of the vote to 34 percent for Rosenfeld, carrying 227 of the
657:
Leggett won the
Democratic nomination for a third term, gaining 45 percent of the vote to 33 percent for former county executive Doug Duncan and 22 percent for councilmember Phil Andrews, and winning 80 percent of county precincts. In the fall general election Leggett defeated the Republican
608:
In the early days of his administration, Leggett took the lead on a number of controversial issues. To help alleviate transportation funding difficulties and move County transit projects forward, he proposed a statewide gas tax increase, a position he first articulated in his race for County
571:
as its first
African-American statewide elected official. When his term on the council was completed in December of that year, Leggett was elected as chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party. Leggett's chairmanship was seen by some Democratic activists as important to maintaining the
639:
in
American society. Leggett located a site for day laborer center on county-owned land with his first several months in office. Despite opposition from anti-immigrant voices, the center has served hundreds of workers and employers without incident.
1152:
661:
Leggett was elected as president of the
Maryland Association of Counties in January 2015. In January 2017, he vetoed a bill which would have gradually raised the county minimum wage to $ 15 an hour by 2020.
600:
in the general election. Leggett easily won the
November election with 68 percent of the vote to Floyd's 22 percent and 10 percent for Ficker. He carried 239 of the county's 241 voting precincts.
1257:
658:
candidate James
Shalleck by 65-35 percent, winning 212 of 245 voting precincts. Leggett declared before the passage of term limits in the county in 2016, that he would not run for re-election.
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534:. He returned to Howard as a professor in their law school in 1976 and continued teaching at the law school through his election as County Executive in 2006, except for a stint as a
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495:, working through school as a groundskeeper in a work-study program and graduating in 1967. In his time as an undergraduate, he was a student leader in the
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677:, with Catherine receiving an honorary degree in 2019. In September 2024, the college dedicated its Math and Science Building to Catherine and Isiah.
592:
to replace Duncan as
Montgomery County Executive. In the Democratic primary election Leggett squared off against a former colleague from the council,
588:, who was in the early stages of a run for governor. In December 2004, Leggett left his position as Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party to begin a
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African-American base of the Maryland Democratic Party and rebuilding the party's strength following the 2002 gubernatorial loss.
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Palazzolo, Joe (March 25, 2006). "Leggett Ups His Bid to Run the County". Montgomery County, Maryland: The Sentinel.
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Executive. This proposal, which happened in the midst of a state budget crunch and in response to high levels of
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Following the election of 2004, Maryland politicians started announcing their intentions for the
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510:(ROTC) unit. He was elected president of his class during his senior year and is a member of
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763:"Turnover in Md. Democratic Party; Chairman Leaving as Focus Shifts to '06 Governor's Race"
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in the county, was supported by the County Council but largely ignored by incoming
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1027:"Montgomery College names science and math building for Catherine, Isiah Leggett"
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He led the on-campus civil rights movement while at the same time commanding the
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and the surrounding upper county area. During the term of Leggett's predecessor
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before leaving that position to run for office once again. Leggett was elected
463:
of Montgomery County in 2006, the first African-American to hold that office.
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624:
847:. Montgomery County Board of Elections. November 17, 2006. Archived from
399:
822:. Montgomery County Board of Elections. October 10, 2006. Archived from
567:
to be its first Republican governor in 40 years and Lieutenant Governor
620:. Leggett continued to advocate for the increase throughout his term.
268:
1070:
Isiah Leggett reflects on time in Vietnam after watching documentary
563:
instead. Townsend and Larson lost in November when Maryland elected
559:
in that year's gubernatorial race. However, Townsend chose Admiral
181:
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Leggett and his wife are longtime philanthropic supporters of
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Leggett dealt with the major local issue of a hiring site for
670:
Leggett is currently married to his second wife, Catherine.
953:"Gaithersburg looks to regain footing on day laborer issue"
789:
787:
1004:"Montgomery Co. executive Ike Leggett says no to 4th term"
981:. Montgomery County, Maryland: The Gazette. Archived from
955:. Montgomery County, Maryland: The Gazette. Archived from
929:. Montgomery County, Maryland: The Gazette. Archived from
903:. Montgomery County, Maryland: The Gazette. Archived from
739:. Montgomery County, Maryland: The Gazette. Archived from
845:"Election Summary Result, Gubernatorial General Election"
820:"Election Summary Result, Gubernatorial Primary Election"
707:"A Year After Trial, Leggett Enjoys Basking in Obscurity"
394:(born July 25, 1944) is an American politician from the
455:
For two years, Leggett served as the chairman of the
901:"Council backs resolution for a higher gasoline tax"
35:
Leggett at a ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2009
1258:
Members of the Montgomery County Council (Maryland)
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794:Weeks, Linton; Trejos, Nancy (October 29, 2006).
1238:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
1228:African-American United States Army personnel
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927:"Gaithersburg day labor center falls through"
584:. Among them was three-term County Executive
8:
1233:African-American people in Maryland politics
59:December 4, 2006 – December 3, 2018
871:"Leggett Repeats Call for Gas Tax Increase"
737:"Leggett's Long Career Taking Another Turn"
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29:
18:
1288:21st-century African-American politicians
452:and served on the council through 2002.
1025:Ford, William J. (September 19, 2024).
686:
1263:Montgomery County, Maryland Executives
977:Montes, Sebastian (January 19, 2007).
925:Montes, Sebastian (October 27, 2006).
471:Leggett was born on July 25, 1944, in
705:Sullivan, Kevin (February 13, 1993).
7:
1298:African Americans in the Vietnam War
951:Montes, Sebastian (August 9, 2006).
475:and grew up with twelve siblings in
979:"Montgomery picks day laborer site"
1283:People from Burtonsville, Maryland
899:Davis, Janel (December 13, 2006).
869:Marimow, Ann (December 12, 2006).
761:Mosk, Matthew (October 27, 2004).
735:Kim, Theodore (January 10, 2003).
576:2006 campaign for county executive
14:
1308:21st-century Maryland politicians
1303:20th-century Maryland politicians
1088: (archived December 11, 2006)
448:elected to the county council in
1268:People from Newton County, Texas
508:Reserve Officers' Training Corps
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796:"In Montgomery, Ready to Serve"
644:Second term as county executive
1110:Executive of Montgomery County
1066:at the Maryland State Archives
653:Third term as county executive
604:First term as county executive
1:
1293:Military personnel from Texas
444:In 1986, he became the first
532:George Washington University
254:George Washington University
1278:United States Army officers
1166:Montgomery County, Maryland
479:. In Alexandria, he played
450:Montgomery County, Maryland
404:Montgomery County, Maryland
47:Montgomery County Executive
1324:
1273:Southern University alumni
512:Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
485:Peabody Magnet High School
424:and, after serving in the
133:from the At-Large district
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557:Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
457:Maryland Democratic Party
385:
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130:Montgomery County Council
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90:Maryland Democratic Party
52:
40:
28:
1243:Howard University alumni
649:county's 252 precincts.
467:Early life and education
406:. He is a member of the
402:and former executive of
329:United States of America
499:movement and twice met
501:Martin Luther King Jr.
422:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
314:Vietnam Campaign Medal
219:Burtonsville, Maryland
477:Alexandria, Louisiana
353:Years of service
305:Vietnam Service Medal
1182:Charles W. Gilchrist
1064:Isiah "Ike" Leggett
875:The Washington Post
826:on February 5, 2007
800:The Washington Post
773:on December 3, 2012
767:The Washington Post
711:The Washington Post
505:Southern University
489:Southern University
418:Southern University
416:, Leggett attended
392:Isiah "Ike" Leggett
232:Southern University
16:American politician
1253:Maryland Democrats
1095:Political offices
1075:2013-11-09 at the
675:Montgomery College
637:illegal immigrants
611:traffic congestion
536:White House Fellow
347:United States Army
1210:
1209:
1162:County Executives
1127:
1126:
1118:Succeeded by
1006:. 12 October 2016
627:from the city of
569:Michael S. Steele
561:Charles R. Larson
524:Howard University
473:Deweyville, Texas
438:Howard University
414:Deweyville, Texas
408:Democratic Party.
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296:Bronze Star Medal
241:Howard University
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1177:James P. Gleason
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1115:2006–2018
1100:Preceded by
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1057:Official website
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1031:Maryland Matters
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713:. Archived from
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538:under President
528:Washington, D.C.
461:County Executive
446:African-American
442:Washington, D.C.
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1036:September 19,
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174:(age 80)
172:July 25, 1944
162:Isiah Leggett
160:
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147:
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127:Member of the
125:
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112:Terry Lierman
111:
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88:Chair of the
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1034:. Retrieved
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1008:. Retrieved
998:
987:. Retrieved
983:the original
972:
961:. Retrieved
957:the original
946:
935:. Retrieved
931:the original
920:
909:. Retrieved
905:the original
894:
883:. Retrieved
879:the original
874:
864:
853:. Retrieved
849:the original
839:
828:. Retrieved
824:the original
814:
803:. Retrieved
799:
775:. Retrieved
771:the original
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745:. Retrieved
741:the original
730:
719:. Retrieved
715:the original
710:
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689:
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660:
656:
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629:Gaithersburg
625:day laborers
622:
607:
598:Robin Ficker
579:
549:
540:Jimmy Carter
520:Juris Doctor
497:civil rights
470:
454:
436:degree from
411:
391:
390:
376:Battles/wars
215:Residence(s)
139:
122:Wayne Rogers
118:Succeeded by
97:
77:Succeeded by
54:
1223:1944 births
1202:Marc Elrich
1197:Ike Leggett
1192:Doug Duncan
1121:Marc Elrich
1112:, Maryland
1103:Doug Duncan
633:Doug Duncan
586:Doug Duncan
553:smoking ban
493:Baton Rouge
432:, earned a
426:Vietnam War
380:Vietnam War
108:Preceded by
82:Marc Elrich
70:Doug Duncan
65:Preceded by
23:Ike Leggett
1217:Categories
989:2007-01-22
963:2007-01-25
937:2007-01-22
911:2007-01-22
885:2007-01-25
855:2007-01-22
830:2007-01-22
805:2009-11-04
777:2009-11-04
747:2007-01-22
721:2009-11-04
681:References
396:U.S. state
325:Allegiance
273:politician
265:Occupation
227:Alma mater
193:Democratic
178:Deweyville
168:1944-07-25
542:in 1977.
430:U.S. Army
428:with the
202:Catherine
144:1986–2002
140:In office
102:2002–2004
98:In office
55:In office
1073:Archived
1010:13 April
615:Governor
590:campaign
481:football
412:Born in
400:Maryland
207:Children
1084:at the
370:Captain
210:Yaminah
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